Communication device and network using tdma radio communication protocol

Abstract

A plurality of communication devices form a network, including a first communication device configured to send and receive communication data to and from other communication devices within the network using time division multiple access protocol; wherein the first communication device is configured to store data indicating whether another communication device is in a master state; wherein in advance of sending communication data, if another communication device is not in the master state, then the first communication device will enter the master state; wherein in advance of sending communication data, if another communication device is in the master state, then the first communication device will enter a lowest available time slot; and wherein all of the communication devices in the network synchronize to the communication device in the master state. Other embodiments are also included herein.

1 . A plurality of communication devices that form a network, comprising:
 a first communication device configured to send and receive communication data to and from other communication devices within the network using time division multiple access protocol;   wherein the first communication device is configured to store data indicating whether another communication device is in a master state;   wherein in advance of sending communication data, if another communication device is not in the master state, then the first communication device will enter the master state;   wherein in advance of sending communication data, if another communication device is in the master state, then the first communication device will enter a lowest available time slot; and   wherein all of the communication devices in the network synchronize to the communication device in the master state.   
     
     
         2 . The plurality of communication devices that form the network of  claim 1 , wherein the network is fully occupied if all available time slots are occupied by communication devices other than the first communication device;
 wherein if the network is fully occupied, the first communication device will not be able to send any communication data to other communication devices;   wherein the network being fully occupied does not prevent the first communication device from receiving the communication data from other communication devices.   
     
     
         3 . The plurality of communication devices that form the network of  claim 1 , wherein upon receiving a communication from a communication device in the master state, the first communication device can enter a slave state, wherein in the slave state the first communication device is able to receive communication data and send communication data. 
     
     
         4 . The plurality of communication devices that form the network of  claim 1 , wherein upon losing contact with a communication device in the master state, the communication device that is in a next occupied time slot in a predetermined order of time slots enters the master state. 
     
     
         5 . The plurality of communication devices that form the network of  claim 4 , wherein a communication device in the master state is lost, if other communication devices not in the master state do not receive any communication data from the communication device in the master state within a master transmission time period. 
     
     
         6 . The plurality of communication devices that form the network of  claim 5 , wherein the master transmission time period is at least 0.5 second. 
     
     
         7 . The plurality of communication devices that form the network of  claim 1 , wherein the network does not include a designated base station. 
     
     
         8 . The plurality of communication devices that form the network of  claim 1 , wherein all of the communication devices initially have equal access and ability to enter the master state. 
     
     
         9 . The plurality of communication devices that form the network of  claim 1 , wherein when a second communication device is greater than a first threshold distance away from the first communication device in the master state, communication data sent by the first communication device will have a volume output of zero by the second communication device. 
     
     
         10 . The plurality of communication devices that form the network of  claim 9 , wherein the first threshold distance is at least 10 m. 
     
     
         11 . The plurality of communication devices that form the network of  claim 9 , wherein when the second communication device is between a second threshold distance and a first threshold distance, a communication sent by the first communication device will have a non-zero reduced volume output by the second communication device. 
     
     
         12 . The plurality of communication devices that form the network of  claim 11 , wherein the second threshold distance is at least 4 m and less than or equal to 10 m, and the first threshold distance is at least 10 m and less than or equal to 20 m. 
     
     
         13 . The plurality of communication devices that form the network of  claim 9 , wherein the distance between two communication devices is calculated using a received signal strength indicator value. 
     
     
         14 . The plurality of communication devices that form a network of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication device comprises:
 a speaker operatively coupled to a processor, the speaker configured to output a sound wave based on an output from the processor; and   a first ear cup and a second ear cup, the first ear cup coupled to the second ear cup with a headband;
 wherein the speaker disposed in at least one of the first ear cup or the second ear cup. 
   
     
     
         15 . The plurality of communication devices that form a network of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication device is selected from one of the following: a welding mask, a hearing protection headset, and a respiration mask. 
     
     
         16 . A communication device, comprising
 a receiver operatively coupled to a processor, wherein the receiver receives communication data from other communication devices;   a speaker operatively coupled to the processor, the speaker configured to output a sound wave based on an output from the processor;   wherein the processor determines a distance from another communication device transmitting communication data to the communication device,   wherein a volume of the sound wave is reduced in proportion to the distance between the communication device and the other device.   
     
     
         17 . The communication device of  claim 16 , wherein when the distance is greater than or equal to a first threshold distance, the volume is zero. 
     
     
         18 . The communication device of  claim 17 , wherein the first threshold distance is 40 m or less. 
     
     
         19 . The communication device of  claim 17 , wherein the first threshold distance is at least 10 m and less than 50 m. 
     
     
         20 . The communication device of  claim 16 , wherein the distance is calculated using received signal strength indicator. 
     
     
         21 . The communication device of  claim 17 , wherein the volume is reduced to a non-zero value between a second threshold distance and the first threshold distance, wherein the second threshold distance is smaller than the first threshold distance. 
     
     
         22 . The communication device of  claim 21 , wherein the second threshold distance is greater than 4 m and less than 10 m. 
     
     
         23 . The communication device of  claim 21 , wherein the second threshold distance is greater than 4 m and less than 10 m, and the first threshold distance is greater than 30 m and less than 50 m.